My hands went to the clasps of his robes, fumbling with the intricate fastenings. My fingers felt clumsy, made awkward by desperation and the weeks of pent-up need. Through the bond, I felt Ash’s amusement at my struggle, followed quickly by his own impatience.
“Here,” he murmured, his shadows reaching out to help. They slipped between the fabric and my fingers, undoing clasps with an efficiency that should have embarrassed me. “You’re terrible at this.”
“I’m out of practice,” I defended, even as I pushed the heavy robes off his shoulders. They pooled at his feet in a cascade ofdark silk. “Besides, I haven’t gotten a chance to undress you for over a week.”
I ran my hands over his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my palms. He shivered at my touch, his shadows wrapping around my wrists like living bracelets. The sensation sent electricity racing up my arms, making my own magic respond in kind. Purple energy crackled between us, mingling with his darkness until I couldn’t tell where my power ended and his began.
“Your turn,” Ash said, his hands already working at my robes with more success than I’d had. His fingers were deft, practiced, and within moments he had me stripped down to nothing. “Much better.”
He pushed me backward until my legs hit the edge of the bed. I let myself fall, pulling him down with me. Our bodies pressed together, skin against skin, and I felt the mate bond flare so intensely it was almost painful. This was different from before. After so much waiting it was more intense, more right. We were married now. Bound in every way that we possibly could be.
“I’ve missed this,” I whispered against his neck, tasting the salt of his skin. My hips bucked, grinding my already hard cock against the soft skin of his stomach. “Missed you. Being kept apart these last few days was torture.”
“Your father’s idea of a cooling-off period was cruel,” Ash agreed, his hands roaming over my body with increasing urgency. “I could feel you through the bond but couldn’t touch you. Do you know how many times I almost shadow walked to your room in the middle of the night?”
“Why didn’t you?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Because I didn’t want to give your father any reason to change his mind about us.” He pulled back to look at me, his blue eyes dark with desire. “But now that we’re married, he can’tsay anything. You’re mine, and I’m yours, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”
The possessiveness in his voice made heat pool low in my belly. I reached between us, wrapping my hand around his cock. He was already hard, leaking, and the small gasp he made when I stroked him went straight to my own dick.
“Then claim me,” I challenged, my voice coming out rougher than intended. “Show me I’m yours.”
Ash’s eyes flashed, and I felt a surge of dark desire pulse through the bond. “I have a better idea,” he said, leaning down to kiss me. “I’ll fuck you first, then you fuck me. That way, we both get what we want.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Goddamn… I wasn’t sure I could love you any more, but that… that is a great fucking suggestion.”
“Good,” Ash grinned, leaning back and grabbing the back of my knees. In one smooth motion he pinned my legs back, putting everything I had on display. “Now shut up while I eat your ass.”
I barely had time to process his words before his mouth was on me, hot and wet and fucking perfect. My back arched off the bed, a strangled moan tearing from my throat as his tongue traced circles around my hole. The sensation was overwhelming, made more intense by the fact that we were finally married.
“Fuck, Ash,” I gasped, my hands fisting in the silk sheets beneath me. Through the bond, I felt his satisfaction at my reaction, his own arousal spiking as he worked me open with his tongue.
He took his time, alternating between broad strokes and pointed flicks that had me writhing beneath him. My magic responded to his, the two types of magic twining together in the air above us like they were dancing. The purple energy from my twilight magic mixed with his darkness, creating something entirely new, entirely ours.
When he finally pulled back, I was panting, desperate, my cock so hard it was almost painful. I watched through half-lidded eyes as he grabbed the oil from the nightstand and slicked up his fingers.
“Ready?” he asked, even as the first finger pressed against my entrance.
“Gods, yes,” I breathed. “Please.”
He pushed inside slowly, carefully, and I felt myself open up for him. The stretch was familiar but still intense, especially after being kept apart for so long. He worked me methodically, adding a second finger, then a third, all while his shadows caressed every inch of my skin.
“Gods I love seeing you like this,” he murmured, his free hand stroking along my inner thigh. “Spread open for me, completely at my mercy. The prince of the Twilight Realm, begging for his cursed shadow witch to fuck him.”
“Not cursed anymore,” I managed, even as he crooked his fingers and hit my prostate dead on, my entire body lighting up in a flash. “You’re the Ambassador now. Official and everything.”
“Mmm, you’re right.” He withdrew his fingers, and I whimpered at the loss. “Which means when I fuck you, I’m fucking royalty. That’s got to be some kind of diplomatic achievement.”
I laughed, breathless and wanting. “Just get inside me already before I die of anticipation.”
“So demanding,” he teased, but I felt his own desperate need through the bond. He was barely holding on, his control fraying at the edges.
He positioned himself at my entrance, the head of his cock pressing against me. Our eyes met, and for a moment everything else fell away. It was just us, bound by magic and love.
“I love you,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
“I love you too,” I replied impatiently. “Now please, Ash?—”
